Chatham-Kent’s Fantasy Hockey Lineup

This really isn’t news, but we thought it would be fun to put together a fantasy lineup of current players hailing from Chatham-Kent. These players could be current members of Junior Hockey teams, or pros, but they must be playing. In other words, if you put together a roster of only Chatham-Kent born hockey players, this is what our best lineup would look like.

Think we left someone off or made a mistake? Tell us about it!

Forwards – Line 1: Ryan Jones (Edmonton Oilers, NHL – Bill Masterton Nominee, has scored 18 and 17 goals in the last two NHL seasons. Born in Chatham). Jamie Schaafsma (Played in the AHL with the Houston Aeros and CHL with the Allen Americans this season. Represented the Netherlands at the World Hockey Championships. Born in Blenheim). Seth Griffith (Played for the London Knights of the OHL. Led the OHL in scoring for much of the season, an assistant captain with the Knights, and a 5th round pick of the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Born in Wallaceburg).Line 2: Brady Campbell (Leading goal scorer in the GOJHL this season before suffering an eye injury with the Elmira Sugar Kings. Committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey next season with the Maine Black Bears. Born in Blenheim). Dane Fox (Plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL. Served as an assistant captain last season when he was selected to play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game. Invited to New York Rangers rookie camp. Born in Thamesville). Brett Vandehogen (Currently serving as the captain of the OUA’s University of Windsor Lancers. Born in Blenheim).Line 3: Brett Hope (Plays NCAA hockey for the Buffalo State Bengals. Born in Blenheim). Sean Myers (Captain of the Chatham Maroons of the GOJHL. Born in Chatham). Blake Blondeel (Assistant captain of the GOJHL’s Chatham Maroons. Born in Tilbury).

Defenseman – Pairing 1: TJ Brodie (Calgary Flames of the NHL. Playing in his second full season. Born in Dresden). Wes Cunningham (After multiple years of playing in the ECHL and AHL, Cunningham is playing this season in Norway. Born in Dresden).Pairing 2: Jamie Vanderveeken (Playing for the Rapid City Rush of the CHL after spending last season in England. Born in Wallaceburg). Kyle Hope (Plays for the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. Invited to the New York Rangers rookie camp. Born in Blenheim).Pairing 3: Chris Allen (Plays in the English Premier League for the Solihull Barons. Played in the NHL for the Florida Panthers. Born in Blenheim). Nate Pietens (Defenseman for the GOJHL’s Chatham Maroons. Born in Chatham)

GoaltendersStarter: Jason Missiaen (Plays in the AHL for the Connecticut Whale. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers. Born in Chatham).Back Up: Brent Paxton (Veteran starter for the Dresden Jr. Kings. Born in Chatham).

Coaching StaffHead Coach: Doug Shedden (Head coach of EV Zug of the Swiss League and Canada’s head coach at the Spengler Cup. Born in Wallaceburg).Assistant Coach: Brian Wiseman (After coaching in the American Hockey League, is now an assistant for the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines. Born in Chatham.Assistant Coach: Chris Bergeron (Head coach of the NCAA’s Bowling Green Falcons. Born in Wallaceburg).

Ian Kennedy is the owner and editor of the Chatham-Kent Sports Network (www.cksn.ca). A University of Western Ontario graduate, Ian is also a secondary school teacher in Chatham-Kent. Ian’s sportscasts and news contributions are regularly featured on 99.1 CKXS FM in Wallaceburg, and his weekly articles are also featured in print in the Chatham Voice. In the past, Ian worked as a columnist and reporter for the Chatham-Kent Daily Post.